Chinese snowboarder Su Yiming made history on Saturday by claiming the Chinese mainland's first medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, earning bronze in the men's snowboard big air final. The 21-year-old defending champion delivered a dramatic performance marked by resilience under pressure.
Su opened with a near-flawless 1980-degree spin, scoring 88.25 points and briefly holding second place. However, a bobbled landing in his second run temporarily dropped him to fifth. Demonstrating trademark composure, he replicated the complex maneuver in his final attempt, improving to 80.25 points for a total of 168.50 and securing third place.
Japan's Kira Kimura took gold with 179.50 points, while teammate Ryoma Kimata earned silver with 171.50. The event showcased Asia's growing dominance in winter sports, with athletes from the region claiming all podium positions.
"Standing here wearing our national colors after clinching China's first medal is my proudest achievement," Su told reporters. The bronze completes his collection of Olympic medals, having previously won gold and silver at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Su's performance highlights the Chinese mainland's continued investment in winter sports development following Beijing 2022. Analysts suggest his success could boost interest in snowboarding across Asia ahead of the 2030 Winter Olympics bid process.
